Lily Zhang to represent Western New York at Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals

Lily Zhang has a passion for golf, a good drive,and she's not too bad on the putting green either.

"When the ball just rolls in the hole, you feel a good relief through your body and you feel good," she said.

Since before the day she was born, the nine-year-old from Williamsville was going to be a golfer.

"My dad, when he first came to America from China, he put on the TV and he liked to watch golf," said Zhang.

Her dad passed his love for the game onto her and she began swinging a club at the age of three.

Fast forward six years and she's now driving, chipping and putting her way into the national spotlight.

Zhang is one of 80 kids from around the United States and Canada competing in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals this weekend in Augusta, GA. Twice before, she had attempted to qualify but never made that final field.

Her hard work in the offseason paid off.

"I used to just use my arms but now I use my body," said Zhang about how her game has changed. "So now it makes the drive go farther and it's also good with chipping and putting so my chipping and putting is better too."

Zhang is now set to tee it up against some of the best golfers her age. With a free ticket to Monday's practice round as part of the package, she's pretty excited to see the pros she strives to play like.
        
"I'm really excited because Tiger Woods is back now so I'm hoping he could win and I'm excited to see my favorite golfer, Jordan Spieth, too," Zhang said.

It'll be an experience Zhang will never forget and as she gets ready to represent Western New York down in Augusta, she has her eyes on one goal.

"Just to have fun and enjoy the time there," she said. "To be proud of myself to even get there."

The Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals take place Sunday, April 1st. The event will be televised on the Golf Channel beginning at 8 a.m. 

Each participant will compete in all three skills (Drive, Chip & Putt). They will accumulate points and the participant with the highest number of accumulated points will be declared the Overall Champion of his or her age category.

Each age category has twenty total participants (ten girls and ten boys).